Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 20,743, Samuel Edgcomb, Conn. Privateer

SERVICE
NUMBER
Corn. Privateer
Edgcomb, Samuel
S. 20,743
carded
CONTENTS

1,092.
Connecticut.
Samuel Edgcomb,
Private in Conn y *
Captain Latham's company of the regiment commanded by Col o Sedgwick.
Ratio of disability, One Half.
Date of closing discharge testimony, 20 Nov: 1824.
Inscribed on the roll of Connecticut,
at 4 dollars per month, to commence on the
20 th November 1824.
Certificate of pension issued the 8 th of Dec r 1824,
and sent to Hon. M. Barber,
N. H.
Arrears to 4 th Mar: 1825. $ 13 " 98
Semi-annual ce ending
* + Prior service
W. R. May 25 1910.
$ 13 " 98
10 th April 1806.
4 th Feb y 1822.

Copies of papers sent to Am. E. Halsey Jan 17. 1837.

Declaration
In order to obtain the Benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7. 1834. State of Connecticut
County of New London ss. Probate District of Stonington
On this 11 th day of June 1834. Personally appeared in Open Court before the Court of Probate for the District of Stonington, in the County of New London & State of Connecticut now sitting. Samuel Edgecomb, a resident of Groton in the District, County and State aforesaid aged Seventy four years and upwards, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the Benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated —
That in the year 1777, being in the 17 th year of his age, he lived in said Groton, at the dwelling of his father Sam d Edgecomb, that on or about the 1 st day of April 1777 his said Father was drafted, to perform two months service as a private soldier, at Fort Griswold in said Town of Groton, that as a substitute for his father, he joined the forces at said Fort, and was placed in the company of State Troops, commanded by Capt Abel Spicer, Isaac Gallup Lieut — Williams Ensign, the Forces commanded by Lt Col. W m Ledyard, — Son a Clancy, Adjutant — That he continued constantly to serve at said Fort, as a substitute for his said Father, in labor on the Fort and works, and other military duties till on or after the 1 st June 1777 when having served two months, the full term for which he was engaged, he was discharged verbally by Capt Abel Spicer, but received no writing to that effect — That he returned home to the house of his father in said Groton. In the same year 1777, on or before the 1 st Oct r of said year his said Father, who belonged to the company commanded by Elijah Avery, was drafted to perform three months service at said Groton, at said Fort Griswold —, that on or before the 1 st October 1777, he the declarant, as a substitute for his said father, joined the company commanded by said Capt Elijah Avery

Sit — Ensign Amos Denison, in Col Parsons Regiment, that he continued constantly to serve in said Company, three months in said Company , that the duties performed, were labor on the fortification, — Munting Picket Guards — and other duties — Col M c Leyards — commanded the Garrison of Fort Griswolds, in which were a Matross Company commanded by Capt. M c Lathan That Col Sedgards was daily at Fort Griswolds — That on or about the 1 st February 1778 he was discharged having served three months, the full term of his engagement as a substitute for his said father —
That the principal part of the next following years 1778 and 1779, he was absent from home, privateering in the Sloop Beaver Capt. Haines, Brig Nancy Capt. Pinkham in 1780, he entered the Privateer Sloop Randolph Capt. M c Neil Fiedick, and arrived in a prize at New London 1 st April 1781 —
That in July 1781, he again entered the Private armed Sloop Randolph Capt. Peck, and arrived at New London in a Prize Ship on the 5 th Sept. 1781 — and went home the next morning early, on alarm being made at Fort Griswold, he immediately and with speed repaired to Fort Griswold, and with Lt. Moore & Sailing master Dan Eldridge of the Privateer, and many other volunteers — he entered the S. Fort, and by direction of Capt. M c Lathan, he was posted at a large Gun in the South East Angle of the Fort, and there continued, vigorously engaged in the defence of the Fort against the attack of the Enemy — till within a few minutes before the surrender of the Fort, when he was severely wounded in the hands by a musket Ball —
The Enemy having obtained possession of the Fort massacred the principal part of the Garrison, then order the survivors to get out of the fort — and by assistance the wounded were seated on a Plank — Those who could not walk, were put into a waggon — were drawn by hand to the brink of the hill — when the waggon was let go — and run down the hill westerly, toward the river.

and struck a large apple tree, the shock caused several to fall from the wagon — Those able to walk were ordered by the British officer to Parade — they were snatched to the shore and carried away as prisoners — The same officer, then proposed, that if any commissioned officer (American) would sign a certificate of Parole — those who were severely wounded might be paroled — and not compelled to be removed from . That Ensign Charles Eldridge who was present and severely wounded in the knee signed, the Parole List — That Declarant was with others paroled — the British officer then ordered the wounded and paroled soldiers, to get themselves away from the Fort as well, and as soon as they might. as he intended to blow up the fort. with great exertion, and by assisting each other, the wounded reached a Boar near the fort, from whence, soon after midnight, they were taken removed by friends, on horseback — that the following day, declarant was conducted home — and there continued disabled, by his wounds, for more than four months — to say till on or after the 6 th January 1782 —
That he has received a pension from the United States, of four Dollars a month, commencing 20 th November 1824, on account of wounds and disabilities received, on 8 th Sept 1781 — that he claims an additional pension for service, during the Revolutionary war as before alleged — nine months, as a private
That he was born in said Groton, 28 th February 1760 — that he has no record of his age except family records. That he was living in said Groton when called into service, that since the revolutionary war he has continued to reside in said Groton and now lives in said Groton
That he was a substitute for his Father Samuel Edgecomb — in the two first terms of duty, in 1777 herein alleged, — in the last alleged service in 1781, he volunteered
That he believes there were no Regular officers, with the Troops, with which he served, nor Continental Regiments, and that he has stated, the circumstances of his service —

That he never received a written discharge, but was said honorably discharged.
That he is known to Erastus Denison in charge and Dimeon Fish who reside in his present neighborhood who can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services services as a soldier of the Revolution, that he has no documentary evidence of his service, but is informed, that a roll of Capt. Elyah's Avery's company, forwarded in the papers of Ichabod Dick son of Stonington, to the Pension office, contains the name of the declarant, to which he respect- fully begs that reference may be had.
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year aforesaid —
Before the Court
Asa Fish Judge
Samuel Edgecomb
We Erastus Denison, a Clergy man residing in the town of Groton, New London County, & State of Connecticut and Dimeon Fish residing in the same town of Groton hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Samuel Edgecomb, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declara- tion: that we believe him to be Seventy four years of age. That he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion, and that we know him to sustain a charac- ter for veracity. — June 16. 1830
Sworn and subscribed the — day and year aforesaid.
Before the Court — of us
Asa Fish Judge
Erastus Denison Dimeon Fish

Second Edition
Edin New com. 20 Nov. 1829 $1.00 per vol. (under act of Feb. 1822) Count. etc.
No. 1 Baxter H.R.

State of Connecticut County of New London ss
Subj: 20 Day of November 1824 before me Ebenezer Learned a commissioner duly appoin- ted by the District Judge for the District of Connec- ticut to take the testimony in the matter of Samuel Edgcomb's application for a pension personally appeared John Morgan of the town of Groton in said County who being solemnly sworn deposed & said that in the year 1781 he was in Fort Griswold in Boston when it was attacked by the British during the revolutionary war that Samuel Edg- comb officer was in said Fort at the time of the engagement and he has he was stationed near said Edgcomb dur- ing said attack that said Edgcomb was employed in throwing cold shot on the enemy as they were mounting the works when said Edgcomb was wounded as the deponent believes & has always heard for he cannot swear that he saw him at the time the wound was inflicted though it was said by those near said Edgcomb at said time the day of the attack that he received said wound from a musket shot from the enemy — the wound was in the fore finger of the right hand the first joint of that finger is

ruined - The deponent has always been well acquainted with said Edgcomb and knows that he has always resided in said Town of Grafton where he now resides - that he has always carried on the business of a cabinet maker which is his occupation at this time - that said Edgcomb was a volunteer after said attack with the other volunteers returned home
John Morgan
Franklin County, New Hampshire November 20 1824
Sworn before Ebenezer Brainerd
Commissioner for taking Testimony on the application of Samuel Edgcomb for a pension

State of Connecticut County & City of New Haven ss
On the 20 th day of November AD 1824 before me Stephen Learned a commissioned clerk appointed by the Dis- trict Judge of the United States for the Dis- trict of Connecticut to take the testimony in the matter of Samuel Hodgecomb's applica- tion for an invalid pension, personally appeared William Latham prisoner of the town of Glastonbury in said County of Hampden who being solemnly sworn deposed & said that in the year 1781 he was private in the company comman- ded by Capt. William Latham & was stationed at Fort Griswold in said Glastonbury under the command of Col. William Ledyard. That when the enemy under the command of the order of Benedict Arnold made an attack upon said Fort Griswold the said Samuel Hodgecomb with other inhabitants of Glastonbury came into the Fort as a volunteer to aid & assist in its defence - That said Hodgecomb was stationed next to the Department That while facing the enemy and endeavoring to repulse them from said Fort the said Hodgecomb received

from the enemy a musket shot which went through the forefinger of the right hand & carried away the first joint of said finger - That he afterwards on the day when said injury was received saw said Deponent then the same that ever since been acquainted with said Deponent having lived within three miles of him and has often seen said wound & knows that it has injured the said Deponent in pursuing his living by manual labor. William Latham Jr.
Also at the same time personally ap- peared Caleb Avery Esq. officer of the of Fort Griswold at the time the attack was made on said Fort by the enemy during the revolutionary war in the year 1781 That he was stationed at some distance from said Samuel Deponent during the engagement but after the Fort was surrendered by the Americans & the British took possession the Deponent remembered that said Samuel Deponent was placed on the list of the wounded

was paroled by the British. He also remem- bered seeing Thomas Espcomb on the day of the attack & after it was over. He knows that he received a wound in his right hand forefinger and then heard & believed he has always heard & believed that said wound was occasioned by a musket ball from the enemy which Thomas Samuel received while facing them in the line of his duty by command of the commanding Officer of said Fort Brimfield. - The Deponent has since the year 1787 lived near said Samuel Espcomb & has always been personally acquainted with him & knows that he has ever labored under the inconvenience of said wound which has rendered his forefinger nearly useless. Robert Strong

State of Connecticut County & City of New London ss
Personally appeared Caleb Avery Esquire & William S. Harkness Esquire of the foregoing affidavit, & made solemn Oath that the affidavit by them severally signed contained the truth therein stated nothing but the truth before
Then learned Commissioners ap- pointed by the District Judge of the District of Connecticut

State of Connecticut County of New Haven ss
On this, 20 Day of November AD 1824 before me Ebenezer Learned a commissioner appointed by the District Judge in & for the District of Connecticut to receive & take the testimony in the matter of Samuel Difcomb's application for a pension per- sonally appeared Doctor John Oliver and Benjamin D Stoddard both of the Town of Griswold in said County who being solemnly sworn deposed & said that they are and have been well acquainted with Mr Sam- uel Difcomb a said Soldier for many years past have personally known him also have known by report that he was wounded in Fort Griswold on the 5 Day of September 1781 when said Fort was attacked by the British that they have often seen & have this day partic- ularly examined the fore finger of the right hand of said Samuel Difcomb in which he received said wound & find that a part of the bone of the fore finger of the right hand has been destroyed & said finger is now still shorter than his other fingers and other small finger and the claimants also know that said Difcomb has always resided in Griswold.

Where he now resides where he now carries on the business of a cabinet maker which trade he has followed ever since they have known him. The deponents are of opinion that the dis- ability under which he had learned labor from said second amounts to one half a total disability & that he is unable to the extent of one half from procuring a livelihood by man- ual labor
John P. Miner M.D. Benj. F. Stoddard
Sworn before
Henry Learns & Commissioner appointed by the District Judge for the District of Connecticut to take Testimony of Samuel Dyer, affidavits for appearance

State of Connecticut County & City of New London ss
On this 20 th Day of November 1824 before me Hovey learned a Commission appointed by the District Judge for the District of Connecticut to take the proof in testimony touching the application of Samuel Hovey for a pension under the Act of Congress of the 18 th of April 1818 personally appeared the said Samuel Hovey, who being solemnly sworn deposed & said that in the year 1781 when Fort Griswold in Groton was attacked by the British during the revolutionary war he went into said Fort in the morning of the day that the attack commenced & continued help to defend said Fort until it was surrendered in the afternoon of the same day - That whatever he did was done as a volunteer & that while engaged in its defence while endeavoring to repulse the enemy he received a musket shot from the enemy in the first finger of his right hand which carried away part of that finger - That after said Fort was surrendered he was paroled

by the British & has ever since that day suffered from the effects of said wound - That he was born and has always lived in said Boston where he now re- sides with his family consisting of a wife & nine children - That he is now sixty four years of age & will be become an old man he had thought to live by his own industry & not take any benefit of the provision made by Government for injured soldiers, but that in his old age he feels that it is necessary for his comfort & support to obtain a pension if possible - That he knew nothing of the first law of Congress upon the subject & had he known of the law it is not probable that, as he was then younger, he should have have made any application for a pension - The De- ponent further swears that he is not on the pension list of any state & that by trade he is a cabinet maker which bus- ness he has always followed.
Sworn by the Deponent
Samuel Edgerton
Henry Leavitt Commissioner appointed by the District Judge for the District of Connecticut to take the testimony in said application for a pension

Samuel Edgcomb  Connecticut Rejected letter 30 June 1834 H. Huns. Vroyel Barber — copies of papers sent to Huns. in Clarke H.R Jan 16 1843
32135  Samuel Edgcomb  ice: _____  sted: _____ , 18  harged: _____ , 18  lication filed: _____ , 18  ges: _____  enlisted: _____  orney: _____  0. _____  Consolidated with D. B. Knut. File 20.743

Mr E. Hales H.R.
Saml. Edgecumbe M.P. Copies of papers

Hm S. N. Clarke H. Q.
Copy in Army 1865

copy.
War Dept.
Pension Office June 30, 1834.
Sir:
The papers in the case of Samuel Edgecomb have been examined and placed on our files. It would seem that he performed five months service only, and as the act of June 7, 1832 provides for none who served less than six months, a pension under that law cannot be granted. It appears that in 1781 he volunteered at Fort Griswold for an indefinite period, and was wounded. For the disability arising from that wound he has already received an invalid pension. But the applicant sets up a claim in consequence of his having been confined four months after receiving the wound. Such a claim can not be admitted. Had he enlisted for a specified period, and during that time he had been confined to a military hospital in consequence of a wound, the fact of his having been unfit for duty from such a cause would constitute no objection to his claim. The soldier would have been considered as much in the service as if he had been under arms. But not so in the present case. His term of service expired when he left the fort. He was under no military authority whatever, and would not of course have been in military service.
Hon. - Voyes Barber. H. R.

Washington 26 Re
DC
To the Hon James L Edwards
Dear Sir
I regret that I feel my self under the necessity of troubling you any more by calling for the papers in relation to the case of Mr Samuel Edgcomb, the Committee has deferred to act in the case for a number of days, for the want of information from your Department
I am Sir with greatest Respect your ob t Servt
Elisha Hales

Revolution
20/43
INVALID.
File No. 20/43
Edgcamb Edgcamb
Revolution Regt
Revolution
Act: Revolution
Index:—Vol. _____, Page _____
[Arrangement of 1870.]

United States
Connecticut, District of Bridgeport
I, Joseph Edwards Judge of the District Court of the United States of America for the Connecticut District by authority of an act of Congress passed the 3rd day of February 1822 entitled an act to amend an act for the relief of persons who were disabled by known wounds received in the Revolutionary War, do hereby specially authorize and commission Ebenezer Darnell Esquire of the Town of New London of the County of New London and District of Connecticut to take all evidence pursuant to the rules and regulations of the said Court for establishing the claim of Samuel Dargason of the Town of Glastonbury in the County of New London and District of Connecticut to be placed on the Pension list of the United States by reason of known wounds received in said War or since (in proceedings in the Seventh Section of an act concerning invalid pensions, passed the 25 th of April 1818) while in the actual service of the United States, and in the time of his duty and when the same shall be completed to return the contents, affidavits, exhibits, and proceedings hereunder together with this Commission, to the Secretary for the Department of War.
Given under My hand and Seal at Bridgeport the 22 nd day of October in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty four
Joseph Edwards D. Judge

I Simson Miner of the town of Gorton County of New London and State of Connecticut a Revolutionary Pensioner aged 74 years do on my oath depose and say that in April 1777 I entered into the Connecticut State Service as a substitute for John Chester of said town of Gorton for the term of two months and was stationed at Gorton Ferry opposite to New London in a company commanded by Capt Abel Spicer and was employed in guarding the place and working on the fortifications during the whole of said term of two months, and I well remember that Samuel Edgcomb of said town of Gorton was then a soldier in said Spicer company and belonged to the same mess that I did during the whole term of two months; at the expiration of which term, we were both discharged together by said Capt Spicer; I am well acquainted with the above named Samuel Edgcomb I believe him to be 74 years of age and that his testimony is entitled to credit
Simson Miner
State of Connecticut } ss County of New London
Gorton June 9 th 1834
Personally appeared before me the above named Simson Miner and made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him subscribed. And I further certify that the said Simson Miner is to me well known and is a credible witness.
Nathan Daboll Justice of the Peace

Declaration Pension de Sam l Edgcomb N o 31. 12 th
Rev d .
Infra
June 20 - 1832 Please return to Hon Noyes Barber M.C. House of Representatives
S. etc. etc.
June 20 1832

I John Morgan of Groton in the County of New London and State of Connecticut, aged Seventy four years, being duly sworn according to Law before the Court of Probate for the District of Stonington, do on my oath certify declare and say, that I am well acquainted with Mr Samuel Edgcomb of said Gro- ton, who signed the annexed Declaration, for a Pension in my presence, that I have ever lived in said Groton, and have from my childhood been well acquainted with said Samuel - That in the year 1777, I lived in said Groton and belonged to the militia company located in said Groton, commanded by Capt John Williams, that about the 1 st October in said 1777, I was detached or drafted for three months ser- -vice, and joined the Company of detached militia at Groton Bank, near Fort Griswold, commanded by Capt Elijah Avery, 2 d Ens. Amos Dimon and served from said 1 st October three months, till on or about the 1 st January 1778, when I was dismissed That I well know said Samuel Edgcomb, was a private in said in said Elijah Avery's company, and served the whole of said term or term of three months - I also was serving on the 6 th Sept 1781, as volunteer in Fort Griswold, was wounded in the attack & engagement at said Fort, and that I well know that said Saml Edgcomb served at said Fort on said 6 th Sept 1781, and was wounded, that myself and said Sam Edgcomb, were paroled, the said Parole was signed by Ensign Charles Eldridge, in my my presence, the said Ensign Eldridge, was also severe- ly wounded at said time - That I believe said Sam Edgcomb is Seventy four years of age. Sworn and subscribed, this 11 th day of Sept June A.D. 1834, before the Court aforesaid
John Morgan His Mark

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant Samuel Edgcomb was a Revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Crastus Denison who has signed the foregoing certificate is a clergyman resident in the said Town of Groton and that Simeon Fish who has also signed the same is a resident of said Town of Groton and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit. And the Court further certifies that it appears to said Court that Simeon Mines and John Morgan who have each signed a certificate herewith annexed, are residents of said Town of Groton, are credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to credit.
Asa Fish Judge.
I David A. Daboll Clerk of the Court of Probate for the district of Stonington Connecticut do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application Samuel Edgcomb for a Pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal of Office the 16 th day of June A.D. 1834.
David A. Daboll Clerk.